(12\28\11-1\1\12)We went to Gatlinburg with friends and had the best time. Our first stop was The Mill.

 

After we all got settled in our chalet, we went out and one stop was at the boot store, buy 1 pair get 2 free, on anything in the store!

 

First night.

 

The whole gang.

 

Mining for gems. I knew Abby would love this and she did.

 

 

 

Abby loves bears so of course we had to go see the bears.

 

After lunch at Ober Gatlinburg we stopped to take a picture in front of the only snow we saw.

 

Then we went ice skating inside the mall. This was Abby's first time and she loved it. They were scraping the ice while we were getting our skates on so we had a to wait a few minutes before we could get out there, Abby was ready and anticipating and she kept telling me I don't want you to hold my hand, over and over so I gave her fair warning and let her find out for her self....once it was time she put ONE skate on the ice and down she went, hard. She let me help her after that. She got pretty good and by the time we got ready to go she went around 3 or 4 times all by her self, in a walking motion but none the less by her self and not on the wall.

 

Later Jason and I and Jon and Cari got to have date night while Julie and Jerri watched the kids. We had a great time, it was the first time we had been able to just walk around Gatlinburg. We had diner at an Italian restaurant, and other fun things, like wine tasting and then went to the space needle. We got a cup of coffee at one of our favorite coffee shops in the Village and just enjoyed every minute of it all. When we got back Abby was sound asleep, when they send all the kids to bed they all did what they were told but all the other kids had a brother or sister except for Abby but she is such a big girl she got in bed and went right to sleep.

 

The next day we had old time pictures made with the kids and then took them to the space needle since our tickets were good for 2 days. We saw the ball hanging from the side for New Year's but we didn't go back, they said there are so so many people that come out so we stayed in.

 

Letting Abby see the taffy being made was a must on my list of to-do's.

 

Of course they all have to touch the big floating ball.

 

We were in a hurry to get back for...The Dixie Stampede!!!!! We have been looking forward to this and it was everything Abby had hoped for.

 

We had the best seats, Abby was glued, it brought tears to my eyes to see the excitement in hers.

 

She did not know what to think about the food though.

 

She had been begging to ride the Sky Lift, and loved it.

 

I know she has the best memories of this trip just like we do.

 

 

Abby and Breanna smashed a penny.

 

 

Abby was a genie in a bottle at Illusions and then she had to get her picture made with the bears. A quick trip to Clair's to pick out a surprise, a souvenier. We went back and we all cooked diner and celebrated New Years on the back deck of the chalet.

 

Time to go home but first breakfast at Flap Jacks, then a trip to the Apple Barn.

 

This and that.